Gomphrena plant named ‘SAKGOM003’

ABSTRACT

A  Gomphrena  plant particularly distinguished by having a white flowers and a spreading plant growth habit, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Gomphrena globosa.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKGOM003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises of a new and distinct variety of Gomphrena, botanically known as Gomphrena globosa, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKGOM003’. ‘SAKGOM003’ originated from a controlled cross in July 1998 in Misato, Japan between the proprietary female Gomphera breeding line ‘95G-11A-6E-1’ (unpatented) having white flowers and a semi-creeping plant growth habit and the proprietary male Gomphera breeding line ‘95G-11A-2A-3’ (unpatented) having magenta flowers and a semi-creeping plant growth habit. Thirty F₁ seeds were obtained and evaluated from the original cross.

In April 1999, the thirty F₁ seeds were sowed and three plants were cultivated. In July 1999, three plants were then chosen having a purple flower color. Between July 1999 and February 2009, seeds from the three chosen plants were cross-pollinated and seeds were obtained. In February 2009, 2000 seeds were sowed and 1000 plants were cultivated based on whether plants had purple flowers, purple flowers with white tips, and white flowers and whether plants had an upright plant growth habit or a spreading plant growth habit. In April 2009, a single plant was selected from this group having white flowers and a spreading plant growth habit.

From May 2009 to December 2009, the selection was evaluated in an open field in Misato, Japan. Vegetative cuttings of the variety were then shipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were regenerated and reevaluated for stability of traits. The selection subsequently was named ‘SAKGOM003’ and was found to have its unique characteristics reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. White flowers; and     -   2. A spreading plant growth habit.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Gomphrena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of plants grown about two-months-old in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions in the spring of 2013. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows a close-up of the mature flowers of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKGOM003’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Salinas, Calif. Data was collected on two-month-old plants under greenhouse conditions in Salinas, Calif. in the summer of 2013. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Amaranthaceae.         -   Botanical.—Gomphrena globosa.         -   Common.—Globe amaranth.         -   Designation.—‘SAKGOM003’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Gomphrena line ‘95G-11A-6E-1’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Gomphrena line ‘95G-11A-2A-3’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—2 weeks.         -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated in five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water), a root             inducing solution, immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and             grown in 20 cm plastic pots in a glass greenhouse located in             Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based growing             medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen, 10%             phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or every             other day by overhead irrigation. Pots were top-dressed with             a dry, slow release fertilizer containing 14% nitrogen, 14%             phosphorus and 14% potassium. The typical average air             temperature was 24° C.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks. -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Spreading, upright, freely branching.         -   Form.—Prostrate.         -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Height (from soil line to top of foliage).—24.0 cm; 1.0 cm             from soil line to first node.         -   Spread.—45.0 cm.         -   Flowering requirements.—Spring to fall, will flower year             round at temperatures of 24 to 35° C. -   Stems:     -   -   Description.—Dull, circular in cross section.         -   Quantity.—Numerous.         -   Stem length.—12.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Internode length.—6.0 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 138A (Green) with RHS N79A (Purple).         -   Pubescence.—Heavy, long, hair-like, RHS N155A (White).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS N79A (Red-Purple). -   Branches:     -   -   Quantity.—3 main.         -   Description.—Dull, circular in cross-section.         -   Color.—RHS 138A (Green) with RHS N79A (Purple).         -   Anthocyanin.—RHS N79A (Red-Purple).         -   Pubescence.—Heavy, long, hair-like, RHS N155A (White).         -   Length.—6.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Internode length.—3.0 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Decurrant.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Surface pubescence (both surfaces?).—Dull, moderately             pubescent RHS N155A (White).         -   Length.—6.0 cm.         -   Width.—2.2 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 147A (Yellow-Green). Lower             surface: RHS 147B (Yellow-Green).         -   Venation.—Pinnate.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Type and appearance.—Small, globose-shaped bracts; small             flat flowers arranged in dense, globose, papery textured             clover-live flower heads, flowers are upright and outwardly             facing; flowers are sessile with a single two-parted             perianth; inflorescence heads are subtended by two small             flower bracts.         -   Total number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 150.         -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—80 to 100.         -   Flowering habit.—Freely flowering.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—Approximately             4 weeks.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence height.—2.0 cm.         -   Inflorescence depth.—1.5 cm.         -   Inflorescence color.—RHS 157A (Green-white).         -   Flower height.—0.7 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Sepals.—None observed. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Surface texture.—Dull, glabrous.         -   Length.—0.9 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Color.—RHS 157A (Green-white). -   Bracts:     -   -   Quantity.—2.         -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Length.—0.6 cm.         -   Width.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Texture.—Dull, glabrous.         -   Color.—RHS 157A (Green-white). -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—6.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Angle.—Mostly upright to 40° vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, moderately.         -   Color.—RHS 138A (Green).         -   Surface texture and appearance.—Dull, moderate pubescence,             RHS N155A (White). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamen number.—5 per flower.         -   Stamen color.—RHS N155A (White).         -   Stamen length.—0.4 cm.         -   Filament length.—0.3 cm.         -   Filament color.—RHS 143A (Green).         -   Anther length.—0.5 cm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Pollen color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Pollen amount.—Sparse.         -   Ovary diameter.—0.1 cm.         -   Ovary surface color.—RHS 143A (Yellow-green).         -   Pistil number.—1 per inflorescence.         -   Pistil length.—0.6 cm.         -   Stigma shape.—Bi-parted.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 157A (Green-white).         -   Style length.—0.5 cm.         -   Style color.—RHS 157A (Green-white).         -   Seed production.—Absent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent. -   Disease and insect resistance: No unusual susceptibility or     resistance to diseases or insects has been observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKGOM003’ is a new and unique variety of Gomphrena owing to its white flower color and spreading plant growth habit. ‘SAKGOM003’ is distinguished from its parents mainly by flower color and habit as shown in Table 1 below:

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKGOM003’ ‘95G-11A-6E-1’ ‘95G-11A-2A-3’ Flower color White White Magenta Habit Spreading Semi-creeping Semi-creeping

‘SAKGOM003’ is a new and unique variety of Gomphrena owing to its white flowers. When ‘SAKGOM003’ is compared to the commercial Gomphrena variety ‘Balboa’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,263) the difference is described in the table below.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKGOM003’ ‘Balboa’ Flower color White Purple 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Gomphrena plant as shown and described herein. 